Novato teenager severely burned as he and his father set off an explosion

A teenage boy was severely injured with second and third-degree burns on Friday when a powerful mixture of gunpowder and magnesium exploded as he and his father tried to break up concrete fence post supports on the side of their Novato home, the Marin Sheriff's Office reported.

The 10:32 a.m. blast shook windows in the neighborhood around the home of the victim in the 1100 block of Bel Marin Keys Boulevard. One neighbor said it sounded like a truck had smashed into her house.

The father told deputies that he and his son were having trouble lighting the gunpowder and magnesium mixture, so he increased the amount of gunpowder, then used a torch to light a hand flare that he intended to use to ignite the explosives and blast out the concrete.

But before he could put the torch down, the flare, being held by his son, set off the explosion.

The father said he gave his son first aid before driving him to a local hospital for emergency treatment for second and third degree burns on his face, chest and neck. Deputies said an investigation is continuing into the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact the investigations unit at 473-7265 or Bay Area Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS.